Chinese BBQ pork dish with chopsticks

Where Does The Red Hue In Chinese BBQ Pork Come From?

NEWS

By NIKITA EPHANOV

Char siu is a popular Chinese roasted pork dish with a characteristic red color, which traditionally emerges due to fermented red bean curd, a prominent part of the marinade.
However, since fermented bean curd is hard to find outside of China, some recipes may achieve the iconic red tint in a Chinese BBQ pork using food coloring instead.
Besides color, the fermented red bean curd also imbues the dish with a powerful dose of umami and a deep, complex flavor, which enhances the dish with a distinct savory twist.